Punta Mita Golf Villas: Renting Inside the Gates of Two Jack Nicklaus Courses

For a certain kind of traveler, Punta Mita is a golf destination first and a beach destination second. Two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses sit on a single peninsula — eight oceanfront holes on one of them, and a par-3 unlike anything else in the world. The real question isn’t whether you’ll play; it’s where you’ll stay so the golf is effortless. Renting a villa inside the gated community is the answer, and it comes with an advantage most visitors don’t realize until they’re booking.

Two Jack Nicklaus courses, one peninsula

Punta Mita is home to the private Punta Mita Golf Club and its two championship courses, both Jack Nicklaus Signature designs — 36 holes in total along the Pacific.

Pacífico is the original, opened in 1999, and the course that put the peninsula on the global golf map. It plays to a par 72 with eight holes fronting the ocean — and it’s home to the Tail of the Whale, officially Hole 3B. This optional par-3 “19th hole” is the only natural island green in the world, set on a rock outcropping roughly 199 yards offshore and reachable only at low tide via a narrow land bridge. It isn’t on the official scorecard; you play it as a bragging-rights challenge, and timing is everything.

Bahía, the second Nicklaus design, opened in 2009 and is the tougher, more technical of the pair, known for undulating greens and several ocean holes. It routes directly through the St. Regis property and the communities of El Encanto, Porta Fortuna, and La Punta Estates — which matters a great deal when you’re choosing a villa.

Both courses share a clubhouse with a pro shop, practice facilities, the Punta Mita Golf Academy, and the Tail of the Whale restaurant overlooking the water.

How golf access actually works (the honest version)

This is the part worth being precise about. The Punta Mita Golf Club is private. Tee times are available to property owners, to guests of the Four Seasons and St. Regis resorts, and to villa guests staying inside the gated community whose rental includes concierge-arranged golf access.

In other words, renting the right villa is one of the legitimate routes onto these courses — but it depends on the individual villa’s program, not on simply being in Punta Mita. So when you inquire, ask directly. We’ll tell you upfront whether a given villa includes golf access, and our concierge handles the rest: securing tee times, tracking the low-tide window for the Tail of the Whale, and arranging club rentals or lessons.

Which communities put you closest to the golf

Because Bahía threads through El Encanto, Porta Fortuna, and La Punta Estates, villas in these communities are often a short golf-cart ride from a tee box. The peninsula is built for carts, and many villas include one. If your trip is golf-led, prioritize a villa in or near these communities, with a cart on site. Our Punta Mita areas guide breaks down how the communities compare.

What makes a villa genuinely work for a golf trip

• A golf cart on site — for the course and for moving around the peninsula.
• Space for the group — bedrooms that comfortably sleep a foursome (or two), plus common areas for the post-round wind-down.
• A concierge who knows golf — tee times, tide timing, rentals, and lessons arranged before you arrive.
• A private chef — there’s no better end to a round than a meal you didn’t have to drive to. See what to expect from a villa with a chef.
• Something for the non-golfers — a strong pool, beach access, and space. Families will want our Punta Mita with kids guide.

Timing your trip — and the Tail of the Whale

High season for golf runs roughly November through May, with the most reliable conditions. If you’re visiting between December and March, watch for whales during their seasonal migration — they’re often visible from the oceanfront holes. And build your Pacífico round around the low-tide window if the Tail of the Whale is on your list; our concierge tracks it daily so you don’t waste the trip’s signature shot.

Frequently asked questions

Can villa guests play the Punta Mita golf courses?
Yes — if your villa’s rental program includes concierge-arranged access to the private club. It isn’t automatic for every rental, so confirm when you inquire and we’ll arrange tee times.

How many golf courses are there in Punta Mita?
Two championship courses at the private Punta Mita Golf Club — Pacífico and Bahía — both Jack Nicklaus Signature designs, 36 holes total.

What is the Tail of the Whale?
An optional par-3 “19th hole” on Pacífico, the world’s only natural island green, set offshore and playable only at low tide.

Which community is best for golfers?
El Encanto, Porta Fortuna, and La Punta Estates sit along the Bahía course and are often closest to the tees. Confirm the villa includes a cart and golf access.

Planning a golf trip to Punta Mita? Tell us your dates and group size and we’ll match you to a villa with golf access — and line up your tee times, including the Tail of the Whale at low tide. Request a villa →

Many of Punta Mita’s golf-view homes sit in Lagos del Mar — see our Lagos del Mar villas guide.

Golf-view villas recently added

New to our collection, each with golf-course views (and golf access via the community membership where noted):

• Villa Las Palmas 5 — golf-side by the Pacifico 2nd fairway; Premier Golf Membership included
• Casa Bahia — El Encanto, ocean-and-golf views, sleeps 10
• Hacienda de Mita 405 — beachfront condo overlooking the Nicklaus course
• Condo Aurora Tau — TAU Residences, ocean & golf views
• Tau Condo with Infinity Pool — TAU Residences
• Las Marietas Condo — golf-adjacent, plunge pool

Browse all golf villas in Punta Mita.